Combination loose leaf notebook and portable desk



Sept. 6, 1955 H. H. WOLF ,985

COMBINATION LOOSE LEAF NOTEBOOK AND PORTABLE DESK Filed Feb. 24, 1955Jfa INVEN TOR. M42010 6. WOLF F|G.4-. I /7 mm ATTQRNLY United StatesPatent O COMBINATION LOOSE LEAF NOTEBOOK AND- PORTABLE DESK ApplicationFebruary 24, 1955, Serial N 0. 490,189

1 Claim. (Cl. 129-1) The present invention relates to loose leafnotebook binders, and in particular to a combination loose leaf notebookand portable reading and writing desk.

The well known loose leaf binder of the box type includes a binder paneland front and back panels hinged to the binder panel. Marginal closurestrips areconnected to the edges of the front and back panels forcompleting the box-like configuration of the binder. Along registeringedges of the marginal closure strips, suitable slide fastener mechanismsare connected for releasably closing the binder in the desired box-likeconfiguration. Usually the front and back panels of the loose leafbinder are fabricated of facings and backings of leather or plastic andcombinations thereof with one or more interposed layers of cardboardrendering the respective panels somewhat rigid. However, as a practicalmatter, both the front and back panels are flexible, especially whenused over a prolonged period of time. The inner faces of either or bothof the front or back panels are further provided with partitionsproviding internal pockets forthe storage of articles within the binder.

It has been suggested in the prior art that such loose leaf binders maybe increased in utility by providing a construction which enables thebinder to serve alternately as a reading and writing desk. In one ofsuch devices, a prop is associated with the front panel of the binderfor operative assembly between the front and rear panels such that thesame are supported indivergent relation. When thus assembled, the backpanel serves as a'supporting surface, while the outer face of the frontpanel serves as an inclined reading and writing surface. Obviously, suchassembly precludes access to the interior of the notebook. Thus, thisknown prior art device may be used either as a loose leaf binder, oralternatively after assembly, as a writing surface. Apart from theobvious lack of facility for every day use in the field, the home,

school or office, where a user is desirous of making concurrent use ofthe loose leaf binder and other papers Which are to be either read orwritten upon, the need for the manipulative steps in effecting assemblyis a deterrent to widespread consumer acceptance.

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide animproved combined loose leaf notebook and portable desk which may serveas either a reading or writing surface. Specifically, it is within thecontemplation of the present invention to provied a unitary assemblywhich for all intents and purposes has the appearance and function of abox-type loose leaf notebook, yet may be used concurrently as a portabledesk.

In accordance with an illustrative embodiment demonstrating features ofthe present invention, there is pro vided a loose leaf binder of the boxtype which includes at least one cover panel having a facing andbacking, in combination with a rigid reinforcing board which isinterposed between the facing and backing of the cover panel and is ofan extent substantially coextensive with the cover panel. Disposedinternally of the loose leaf binder in operative relation to the backingis a clip of the type in- "ice cluding a spring biased jaw engagedagainst the backing of the cover panel. The clip is anchored to therigid reinforcing board and cooperates with the reinforcing board toserve as a rigid desk for material held by the clip. Thus, it will beappreciated that the reinforcing board covered by the facing and backingserves in the loose leaf binder as one cover panel; and in associationwith the clip the reinforcing board is effective to support a stack ofpaper on the inner face of the cover panel. When the loose leaf binderis closed, as by provision of appropriate slide fastener mechanism, thesame has the appearance of binders presently found on the market, thatis the board and clip are hidden from view; when the loose leaf binderis open for access to the loose leaf contents thereof, the user merelyturns the contents of the notebook into coextensive relation with thepanel opposite the cover panel which is constructed in accordance withthe present invention, and thus may employ said cover panel as a readingor writing surface.

The above brief description, as well as further objects, features andadvantages of the present invention, may be best appreciated byreference to the following detailed description'of a presently preferredbut illustrative embodiment, when taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. l is a perspective view, showing a combined loose leaf notebookandportable desk embodying features of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view, with parts broken away, of a combined looseleafnotebook and portable desk illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken substantially along the line 3-3 ofFig. 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows; and

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially along the line44 of Fig. 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

.Referring now specifically to the drawings, there is shown in Fig. 1 acombination loose leaf notebook and portable desk- 10 which includes aloose leaf binder of the box type having a medial binder panel 12 andfront and back panels 14, 16 hinged-to the binder panel along the hingelines 18, 20. Secured to the inner face of the medial binder panel 12intermediate the hinge lines. or axes 18, 20 is a loose leaf ring bindermechanism, generally designated by the reference numeral 22. Such looseleaf ring binder mechanism 22 may be of the two or three ring varietyand of any well known construction. Accordingly, further detaileddescription is dispensed with.

Secured about the upper, lower and outer side edges of the front coverpanel 14, is a marginal closure strip 24; similarly disposed along theupper, lower and outer side edges of the back cover panel 16 is afurther marginal closure strip 26. When the notebook is brought to theclosed position, that is with the front and rear panels 14, 16substantially coextensive, the marginal strips 24, 26 cooperate tocomplete the box-like configuration of the binder.

Along the registering edges of the marginal closure strips 24, 26 thereis provided cooperating separable fastener elements 28, 30 forreleasably closing the binder 10 in box-like configuration. Therespective panels may be fabricated of any suitable material such asleather, plastic or combinations thereof; similarly, the marginalclosure strips 24, 26 may be fabricated of leather or plastic, or ifdesired of a stretchable elastic material, such that the binder may beexpanded within reasonable limits.

In accordance with the present invention, at least the back panel 16 ofthe binder 10 includes facing and backing members 32a, 3211 which definea pocket therebetween which receives a rigid reinforcing member 34. The

reinforcing member 34 is fabricated of Masonite or other equivalentmaterials, and is of an area such that the same issubstantiallycoextensive in area with the rear or backcover panel 16.When thus assembled, the reinforcing member 34 is completely hidden fromview, and renders substantially the entire back cover rigid and planar.

Operatively disposed in relation to the innerface of the panel is aclip, generally designated by the reference numeral 36, for holding oneor more sheets of paper? bracket and in the underlying portions of thereinforcing member, the respective rivets beingoperatively connected tothe attachment bracket, extending through the backing 32a and beinganchored in the reinforcing member.-

Assembled with the attachment bracket is a clamping jaw 42 which isformed with depending lugs 42a, and a contact edge 42b adapted to engagethe backing member.

The jaw 42 is formed with a finger piece 420. The clamping jaw 42 isassembled with the bracket by means of a pivot pin 44 and a suitablecoil spring 43 which yield-' ably urges the contact edge 42b of theclamping jaw against the backing member.

In use, the clamping jaw 42 may be opened by pressing back on the fingerpiece 420, such that the papers P either to be written on or read, maybe disposed in a supported position on the fiat reinforcedback panel 16.The user of the notebook has ready access to the loose leaf contents,yet has access to the portable desk by merely turning the contents tolie flat against the front panel 14. The notebook, when in the opencondition of Fig. 1, and with the contents of the binder lying againstthe front panel 14, may be supported on the lap of the-user and serveconveniently as a portable desk; in the alternative the same may be heldvirtually in any position with the user being able to bear against theback panel 16 for the purposes of writing.

When not in use, the assembly is such that the binder may be closed bybringing the panels 14, 16 into facing relation with each other andengaging the registering ele-- ments of the separable fasteners 28, 30by pulling on the slide thereof.

From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that there has been provideda combination loose leaf notebook and portable desk which may beconcurrently used as a notebook and as a desk without the need forextensive The attachmentmanipulation. Thespecially constructed backpanel functions with the clip 42 to provide the portable desk havingprovision for attachment of papers thereon; further, the back panel 16serves to provide the cover member for the loose leaf binder.

Numerous modifications of the article of manufacture of the presentinvention will occur to those skilled in the art, and accordingly theappended claim should be given a latitude of interpretation consisentwith the disclosure; at times certain features of the invention willbe-used without a corresponding use of other features.

What I claim is:

An enclosed portable desk comprising a cover of boxlike configurationhaving a binder panel and front and back panels hinged along inner sideedges-to said binder panel, a loose leaf binder mechanism extendinglongitudinally of said binder panel marginal closure strips connected tothe outer side edges and upper and lower edges of said panels forcompleting the box-like configuration of said cover, slide fastenermechanisms connected to said marginal closure strips for releasablyclos-' ing said cover in said box-like configuration, at least said backpanel including facing and backing members, a

hidden rigid reinforcing member interposed between saidfacing andbacking members and of an area substantially coextensive with saidfacing and backing members, and clip means operatively disposed inrelation to the inner face of said back panel for holding one or moresheets of paper on said back panel serving as a portable desk, said clipmeans extending across said back panel adjacent to its upper edge andincluding an attachment bracket, securing means extending through saidfacing member and anchored only on said reinforcingmember for mountingsaid attachment bracket on said back panel, said securing means beingcovered by said backing member whereby said securing means is hiddenfrom view when said cover is viewed from its outer side, a jawswingably' supported in said attachment bracket and having a contactedge engaging said back-ing member, and a spring yieldably urging saidcontact-edge against said backing member.

, References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES. PATENTS744,536 Guilbert Nov. 17, 1903 745,896 Page Dec. 1, 1903 756,308 WhitneyApr. 5, 1904 794,035 Monson July 4, 1 905 1,302,654 Hall May 6, 1919.1,958,568? Dawson et a1. May 15, 1934 2,240,122 Schade Apr. 22, 1941

